Page 1 of 1 Moretti was one of many small Italian manufacturers that specialised in producing sports cars based on Fiat models and/or using Fiat mechanicals. One of the company's finest creations was the Fiat 850-based Sportiva Coupe built in small numbers between 1967 and 1971. Retaining the rear-engined Fiat's underpinnings, it featured a bespoke body that was designed and built in-house.

Responsible for the lovely exterior design was Swiss stylist Dany Brawand, who had previously worked for Giovanni Michelotti. The car's nose and profile share similarities with the Pininfarina penned Fiat Dino Spider but it is believed that Brawand created the Sportiva design nine months earlier. The original Sportiva was strictly a two-seater as the spare tire filled up the nose, which meant the rear seats were sacrificed for luggage space.

Pretty much built to order, the final specification of the Fiat Moretti 850 Sportiva could be determined by the customer. In 'standard' trim, the compact four-cylinder engine displace 843cc and produced just under 50hp. With readily available tuning kits, the popular Fiat engine could be easily enlarged and the power output grew accordingly. The rest of the car's running gear was identical to the Fiat 850 Coupe.

Priced at a heft 1,095,000 Lire, the 850 Sportiva entered production in 1967. Although some sources suggest as many as 300 examples were built, Giovanni Moretti more recently stated only 40 Sportivas were constructed. Among them were several evolutions, including the four-seater S4 and a Spider version was also added to the line-up. Of the 40 cars, it is believed less than half have survived.

Little known today and very rare, the Fiat Moretti 850 Sportiva remains as one of the most beautiful designs of the 1960s. Page 1 of 1